Process and apparatus for the wettreatment of materials



Sept. 30, 1969 H. FLEISSNER 3,469,932

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE WET-TREATMENT OF MATERIALS Filed April 7, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 In yenfar:

Sept. 30, 1969 H. FLEISSNER 3,469,932 I PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE WET-TREATMENT OF.MATERIALS Filed April 7, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor:

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HEM/K FLE/J-SNER BY- M9 INTGRNGYS Sept. 30, 1969 H. FLEISSNER 3,469,932 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE WET'TREATMENT OF MATERIALS Filed April '7, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEN'ITUR. Hf/A/Z a 5155 N52 United States Patent PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE WET- TREATMENT OF MATERIALS Heinz Fleissner, Egelsbach, near Frankfurt am Main, Germany, assignor to Vepa AG, Basel, Switzerland Filed Apr. 7, 1967, Ser. No. 629,308 Claims priority, application Germany, Apr. 7, 1966,

A 52,106; Jan. 5, 1967, V 32,718 Int. Cl. D06c 29/00; D06f 35/ 00 US. Cl. 8--151 32 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for the wet-treatment of materials, for example, textile materials, wherein the material to be treated is penetrated at least twice by the treatment liquid. More particularly, the present invention concerns the wet-treatment of textile materials such as for example, loose fibrous material, tow, top, slivers, fabrics, knit goods, needled felt materials, non-woven, tufted carpets, etc., wherein the materials to be treated are introduced into a liquid treatment bath, immersed in said treatment bath by contact with at least one conveying surface, and penetrated at least twice by the treatment liquid in alternate directions as a result of passing a portion of the treatment liquid into and out of the conveying means providing the conveying surface.

Wet-treatment apparatus for the transportation of textile materials comprising a roller subjected to a suction draft are well known. In these known devices the material is held by a suction draft to the perforated rollers and passed through the treatment bath. Thus, the material is intensely penetrated by the treatment liquid. In the known perforated suction rollers the treatment liquid is drawn off at one face of the rollers and returned to the treatment bath. These treatment apparatus possess the disadvantages that they hold a relatively large quantity of the treatment liquid and that the particles carried along in the treatment liquor during washing stick to the textile material which acts as a kind of filter thus effecting the cleaning aifect. Another disadvantage of these types of apparatus is that the suction draft is only uniform when working with small working widths. However, when cleaning materials such as needled felt carpets and nonwovens, working widths of 10 m. or more are generally required and for this application the presently known suction rollers with lateral removing of the treatment medium are not suitable.

Perforated rollers subjected to a suction draft have also been used for securing wool. In this process at least two perforated rollers are arranged in the treatment bath and between these two rollers a floating zone for the loose wool is provided. In this device the liquid which is laterally discharged from the perforated rollers is returned into the bath beneath the perforated intermediate bottom. Thus, undesirable turbulence is produced in the bath which prevents settling of the dirt. If the liquor is very contaminated, the loose fibrous material can act as a filter, so that part of the dirt is again deposited on the fibrous material.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to avoid these prior art disadvantages in wet-treatment processes and apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved process and apparatus for a more uniform wet-treatment of materials, such as for example, textile materials, with large working widths.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved process and apparatus for improving and increasing the wet-treatment effect, that is, the general cleaning eifect per liquid circulation cycle.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved process and apparatus for the wet-treatment of textile materials wherein small particles carried along in the treatment liquid, for example, dirt, is prevented from settling and sticking to said textile material.

Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter; it should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Pursuant to the present invention, it hasbeen found that the above-mentioned disadvantages may be eliminated and a much improved process and apparatus for the wet-treatment of textile materials may be obtained if the textile material which is being conveyed on a conveying surface, for example, a roller, is penetrated at least twice, that is in alternating directions, by the circulating treatment liquid. The treatment liquid is not discharged at one face of the perforated conveying means, for example, a perforated roller, but rather over the entire working width of said perforated roller. According to the present invention not only is a double treatment effect ob-- tained in one liquid circulation cycle, but also particles which may have deposited on the material when the treatment liquid is drawn into the perforated roller are again detached from the material when it is penetrated by the treatment liquid flowing in the opposite direction.

For carrying out the process of the present invention a perforated conveying means, for example, a perforated roller, is provided wherein said roller contains a pumping device and in some cases guiding elements which are arranged in such a manner that at least a portion of the interior of said roller is divided into a suction zone and a pressure zone. When working with small working widths, it is also possible to arrange the pumping device outside of the perforated roller, to exhaust the treatment liquid at one face of the suction zone and to return the liquid at the same face into the pressure zone. This embodiment of the present invention offers the advantage of an increased cleaning effect.

If the material to be treated can be stressed in the longitudinal direction, it is passed around the perforated roller to the extent that in each circulation cycle it is penetrated twice and alternately by the circulating treatment liquid. To insure safe material guidance it is desirable to arrange one guide roller at the inlet perforated roller and one guide roller at the outlet performated roller and preferably at the height of the liquid level. However, it is also possible to provide these guide rollers at the perforated rollers at the beginning of the suction zone and at the end of the pressure zone. In many processes and apparatus it is also advantageous to arrange a pressure roller so that it engages the material being conveyed on the outside of the perforated roller at the transition point between the suction zone and the pressure zone. In this manner not only the suction zone is properly separated from the pressure zone but also the treatment effect is intensified by squeezing the material being treated. Furthermore, it is advantageous to provide within the liquid circulation at least one filter element which removes the solid substances which become detached from the material being treated and are carried along in the treatment liquid.

According to the present invention the flow of the treatment liquid is obtained by providing a pumping means, for example, a gear pump or a cross-current pump in the conveying means, for example, a sieve drum. A particularly advantageous result is achieved if at least one partition means with at least one suction socket is arranged in the perforated roller together with a vane-type pump. By arranging several pumps over the working width it is also possible to uniformly treat any desired working width. All of the components in the perforated roller including the two roller bottoms may be advantageously combined in one assembly. If a small amount of treatment liquid is desired, one or more liquid displacing bodies can be additionally arranged in the perforated roller. Depending upon the design of the liquid container, an extremely small amount of treatment liquid will generally be sufficient.

In a further embodiment of the present invention at least one brush roller can be correlated to the perforated roller, preferably in the pressure zone or at the transition point between the suction zone and the pressure zone so as to engage the material being treated. For apparatus utilizing a heated treatment liquid, it is also desirable to arrange at least one steam jet tube, preferably in the suction zone, with the jets directed towards the perforated roller. Thus, it is possible to heat the material being treated to temperatures higher than the bath temperature for short periods of time. To further improve the apparatus of the present invention it is desirable to provide a vibration device in the treatment medium and advantageously to design the filter element disposed in the liquid circulation as a vibrating component in order to obtain a pulsating liquid flow. However, the bottom of the container may also be designed as a vibrating component or the perforated roller together with its correlated rollers may be caused to vibrate.

The apparatus of the present invention can be used for cleaning loose fibrous material, for example, raw wool. In such a cleaning process the perforated rollers are generally only partially immersed in the treatment bath. Thus, they cause a liquid flow only in the direction of material passage above a perforated intermediate bottom, whereas the liquid in the lower portion of the bath below said intermediate bottom is absolutely undisturbed, thus facilitating the settling of the dirt which has been Washed out of the wool. Here also, as in known devices, it is expedient to provide a floating zone between the rollers. It is possible to laterally discharge part of the treatment liquid drawn into the perforated rollers but generally, however, all of the treatment liquid drawn in will flow out of the roller at the pressure zone of said roller. The loose fibrous material is thereby opened and separation of the dirt is readily facilitated. In a process of this type the rollers should be immersed in the treatment liquid less than about one-half, and preferably about one-third to one-fourth of their diameter. Thus the wool floating on the surface of the treatment liquid is not taken over within the vertical range of the roller but rather in the range where the roller, due to its shape, forces the wool mechanically beneath the treatment liquid. This arrangement of the rollers may also be realized in an impregnating apparatus in which only a small amount of treatment liquid is required.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, it is desirable to sub-divide the interior of the perforated roller not only into a suction zone and a pressure zone, but also into a pressure equalizing zone which is situated between said pressure and suction zones and which communicates with the pressure zone over the entire working width of the roller through a slit. The size of the slit for the liquid passage between the pressure zone and the pressure equalizing zone can be varied and adapted to the quantity of liquid being circulated. Thus, it is insured that even when handling a variety of materials and even when working with large working widths an extremely uniform fioW prevails in the pressure zone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will become fully understood from the detailed description hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of the present invention and wherein,

FIGURE 1 is a wet-treatment apparatus according to the present invention showing a perforated roller containing a gear pump;

FIGURE 2 is a wet-treatment apparatus according to the present invention comprising a perforated roller containing a cross-current pump;

FIGURE 3 is a Wet-treatment apparatus of the present invention comprising a perforated roller containing at least one vane-type pump;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal section of a wet-treatment apparatus according to the present invention comprising a scouring bath for treating raw wool;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of the scouring both of the present invention according to FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is substantially the same as FIGURE 3 and shows in additions how the filter means swings in the liquid circulation producing a pulsating liquid flow. Also, the guide rollers in FIGURE 6 are designed as brush rollers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the various views to designate like parts, the apparatu of the present invention comprises a liquid container 1 which is filled with a treatment liquid or liquor 2. A perforated roller 4 which is partially immersed in the liquid 2 is provided as a conveying element for the textile material 3 through said liquid. For guiding the textile material at the inlet and the outlet of the apparatus a roller 5 is correlated to the perforated roller 4. Another roller 6 can be provided in the treatment bath. This roller squeezes the textile material 3 at the transition point between the suction zone and the pressure zone. In a further embodiment of the present invention at least one brush roller 5' can be correlated to the perforated roller, preferably in the pressure zone or at the transition point between the suction zone and the pressure zone so as to engage the material being treated. After leaving the liquid, the textile material is against squeezed by means of a pair of rollers 7.

In the apparatus of the present invention according to FIGURE 1, the liquid circulation is effected by means of two gear pumps 8 which extend over substantially the entire working width and/or drum length. The suction zone and the pressure zone in the perforated roller are separated from each other by means of guiding elements 9 and 10. A filter element 11 in the liquid circulation separates the solid substances detached from the textile material 3 from the treatment liquid.

The embodiment of the present invention according to FIGURE 2 is similar to that of FIGURE 1. For circulating the liquid a cross-current pump 12 is used which also extends over substantially the entire working width and/or drum length. With large working widths several cross-current pumps 12 may be arranged side by side.

In the embodiment of the present invention according to FIGURE 3, guiding elements 9' and 10 in the perforated roller 4 are designed as liquid displacing bodies. Between these guide elements 9 and 10' several suction sockets 13 are arranged which are distributed over substantially the entire working width. In each of these suction sockets 13 a vane-type pump 14 with a motor 15 is fastened to supports 16 of the suction socket 13. Between the suction socket 13 and the guiding elements 9 and 10" a partition (not shown) is arranged for separating the suction zone from the pressure zone.

It is also possible to arrange several perforated rollers 4 in the liquid container 1. Also, the perforated rollers 4 may :be immersed in the liquid either completely or only partially, for example less than one-half of their diameters, depending upon the intended use of the apparatus. Advantageously, all of the components which are arranged in the perforated roller can be combined as one assembly so that for cleaning and repair work this assembly may be removed from the perforated roller at one face as a single unit. In order to intensify the treatment a brush roller 17 as well as steam jet tubes 18 can be provided in the treatment bath. The arrows at filter 11 indicate that it can be caused to swing or vibrate so that a pulsating liquid flow can be produced. The Swinging or vibrational movement of the filter element can be more clearly seen by referring to element 11 of FIGURE 6.

In the apparatus according to FIGURES 3 and 4 several perforated rollers 4 are arranged in the liquid container 1. Beneath these rollers a perforated intermediate bottom 20 is arranged in order to avoid settling of the fibers. Bottom 21 of the liquid container 1 is inclined so that the sludge which settles in the container is led to a worm conveyor 22. In the apparatus of FIGURE 5 two pumps 14 are arranged in the perforated roller 4 subdividing the roller portion immersed in the liquid into a suction zone 23 and a pressure zone 24. In order to equalize the liquid flow a pressure equalizing zone 25 is provided between the suction zone 23 and the pressure 24. The pressure equalizing zone communicates with the pres sure zone over the entire working width by means of a slit 26. A joint drive 27 for the pumps 14 is arranged outside the perforated roller 4 and functions to drive the pumps 14 via V-belts 28.

The loose textile material 3 to be treated is floated in the first zone of the bath, is drawn as a uniform fleece to the perforated roller 4 by said roller and is passed through the treatment liquid on the surface of said perforated roller. The liquid drawn in at the suction zone 23 flows out of the perforated roller 4 in the pressure zone 24 and due to the inertia of the fleece, a large portion of the liquid again penetrates the fiber fleece. The fibrous material is thereby opened at the same time and the separation of the dirt is facilitated. The loose textile material 3 is then floated to a subsequent perforated roller 4. The textile material from the last perforated roller is passed as a fleece to a pair of squeeze rollers where it is substantially dehydrated before it is subsequently passed into a wash bath (not shown).

Since modification of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact constitution shown and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for the wet-treatment of materials which comprises a container, at least one perforated conveying means rotatably disposed within said container, means for introducing the material to be treated to the surface of said conveying means, circulating means disposed within said conveying means sub-dividing at least a portion of its interior into a suction zone and a pressure zone and means for removing the treated material from said container.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the container is divided into a suction zone and a pressure zone.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein guiding elements are associated with the circulating means in defining the suction zone and the pressure zone.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein liquid displacing bodies are associated with the circulating means in defining the suction zone and the pressure zone.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one guide roller is arranged at the inlet of the conveying means and at least one guide roller is arranged at the outlet of the conveying means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said guide rollers are disposed at the height of the liquid level.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one guide roller means is disposed outside of the conveying means at its surface and at the transition point between the suction zone and the pressure zone in the container.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one guide roller means is arranged at the conveying means in the beginning of the suction Zone and at least one guide roller means is arranged at the conveying means at the end of the pressure zone.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circulating means is a gear pump.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circulating means is a cross-current pump.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circulating means is a unit comprising at least one suction socket and at least one vane-type pump.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein all of the com ponents in the perforated conveying means are combined in one assembly.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one filter means is provided in the liquid circulation.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the filter means swings in the liquid circulation producing a pulsating liquid flow.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one brush roller means engages the material on the surface of the conveying means.

16. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the guide roller means are designed as a brush roller means.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one set of squeeze rollers are provided at the outlet of the liquid container.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one steam jet tube means is arranged near the outside surface of the conveying means.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said steam jet tube means is positioned in the suction zone.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a vibrating means is disclosed in the liquid circulation to produce a pulsating liquid flow through the material being treated.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein more than one conveying means is disposed within the container, a floating zone is provided between said conveying means and the treatment liquid drawn into the conveying means in the suction zone is at least partially discharged from said conveying means over the entire working width of the pressure zone.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein less than about one-half of the diameter of the conveying means is disposed in the treatment bath.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein about one-fourth to one-third of the diameter of the conveying means is disposed in the treatment bath.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the liquid container is provided with an intermediate bottom which is perforated.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the intermediate bottom and a portion of the surface of the conveying means at the outlet of the liquid container form a narrow channel for removing the material being treated from the apparatus.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the space in the conveying means is divided into a suction zone, a pressure zone and a pressure equalizing zone, said pressure zone communicating with the pressure equalizing zone over substantially the entire working width of said conveying means.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conveying means is a cylindrical sieve drum.

28. A process for the wet-treatment of textile materials which comprises introducing the materials to be treated into a liquid treatment bath, immersing said material in the treatment bath by contact with at least one perforated conveying surface which is a least partially immersed in said treatment bath, drawing a portion of the treatment liquid through a part of the submerged portion of the con veying surface and discharging at least part of said portion of the treatment liquid through the remaining submerged portion of the conveying surface thereby permitting double penetration of the textile material by the treatment liquid in alternate directions.

29. The process of claim 28, wherein the textile materials are selected from the group consisting of loose needled felt materials, non-Wovens and tufted carpets.

31). The process of claim 28, wherein the treatment liquid passes through a suction zone, a pressure equalizing zone and a pressure zone.

31. The process of claim 28, wherein the material being treated is passed around the conveying surface such that it is penetrated by the circulating treatment liquid at least twice and alernately in each liquid circulation cycle.

32. The process of claim 28, wherein the material is immersed in the treatment bath by more than one conveying surface, said treatment bath being provided with a floating zone between some of the conveying surfaces.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,011,328 12/1961 Fleissher 68-158 3,019,630 2/1962 Fleissher et al 68-158 3,025,691 3/1962 Fleissher 68-158 3,292,397 12/1966 Wooliever 68-158 WILLIAM 1. PRICE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

